President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt has declared a three-month state of emergency following twin church bombings which killed at least 49 people and over a 100 injured by the so-called Islamic State group on Palm Sunday.

The attacks in the Nile Delta cities of Tanta and Alexandria followed a Cairo church bombing in December and came weeks before a planned visit by Catholic Pope Francis intended to show support for Egypt’s Christian minority.Sisi declared the “three-month” state of emergency, which he must present to parliament within a week.Seventeen people including at least four police officers were killed in that attack, which the interior ministry said was caused by a suicide bomber who blew himself up when prevented from entering the church.